Four Corners region ordered to evacuate as San Juan River rises toward historic levels

Evacuation alerts issued on Sunday afternoon for the Four Corners region require residents living within a half-mile of the Animas, La Plata, and San Juan rivers to move to higher ground. The San Juan County Office of Emergency Management posted the directive on social media, warning that the San Juan River was expected to rise overnight. In Pagosa Springs, Colorado, officials described the incoming flood as potentially catastrophic as the river was forecast to crest at 21.9 feet late on Sunday night.

The Archuleta County Sheriff's Office compared the forecast to the devastating flood of 1911, which wiped out much of the town of Pagosa Springs. At that time, the river crested at approximately 17.8 feet. By sundown on Sunday, the water had already reached 14 feet, according to Vicky Schaffer, a spokesperson for the county. Roads entering Pagosa Springs were closed to inbound traffic, and residents not under mandatory orders were urged to remain indoors. Officials advised that the highway into town was reserved for evacuees and that residents should avoid contact with the river after sewage was discharged into the water.

Elvira Arviso, a resident of Bloomfield, New Mexico, stated in a phone interview that her home is just under a mile from the San Juan River. She said she is prepared to evacuate, recalling that recent floods brought water within 200 yards of her property. In Pagosa Springs, Katie German, owner of Bruin Coffee, reported that downtown had been evacuated and street flooding was present. German expressed concern about the single bridge into the town washing out, which would prevent trucks carrying food and fuel from entering the community.

The current storm system is part of a larger weather event affecting the Southwest. The National Weather Service issued flood warnings for parts of southern Utah, southwestern Colorado, western New Mexico, and southern Nevada. Forecasters indicated that the region could receive up to 4 inches of rain, fueled by Pacific storm systems. Previous storms had already saturated the ground, increasing the likelihood of excessive runoff in areas such as Washington County, Utah, and Zion and Capitol Reef National Parks.

In New Mexico, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham criticized the federal response to the ongoing flooding. She stated that while President Donald Trump declared a presidential disaster, the declaration did not include funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's public assistance program. This program typically reimburses local and tribal governments for 75 percent of debris cleanup and emergency protection costs. Grisham said New Mexico is currently covering these expenses while awaiting a federal commitment, noting that more storms are predicted to arrive.

The governor's office noted that at least 10,000 homes remained underwater in San Juan County following the initial flooding that began on October 22. Flood gauges along the San Juan and Animas rivers broke during the earlier surge, and water levels exceeded records set more than a century ago. The disaster declaration covers four counties and four pueblos, including Laguna, Jicarilla Apache, Zia, and San Ildefonso. Emergency management agencies continue to monitor water levels as the rain system moves eastward.

La Plata County officials reported that all public roads were closed due to the flooding. In Sedona, Arizona, which is part of the broader affected region, residents reported being trapped in homes as Oak Creek rose. The Yavapai County spokesperson stated that water levels in Sedona were expected to peak by evening on Sunday. No injuries or deaths had been reported in the area, though at least 100 homes were located within the evacuation zone. State air rescue crews assisted with rooftop evacuations in Arizona, and transportation crews worked to clear debris from closed highways.